Reviewed August 2026
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Vermont
A Vermont divorce counts as uncontested, or stipulated, when both spouses agree on every term from the start. They file a complete stipulation along with the complaint. Vermont rewards this agreement directly. A stipulated filing costs $90 instead of the standard $295. Qualifying couples can also file a Stipulation and Motion to Waive Final Hearing. That lets them skip appearing in court altogether. Vermont handles finality backwards compared to most states. Most states impose a waiting period before the judge grants the divorce. Vermont instead enters a decree nisi first. The divorce does not become absolute until 90 days later, unless the court sets an earlier date. This two-step structure matters as much as the paperwork for anyone filing an uncontested case.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how uncontested divorce checklist works under Vermont law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Vermont paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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What makes a Vermont divorce uncontested
A case is stipulated when both spouses agree on everything at the start. They file a full written stipulation with the complaint. It covers property division, debt, and, for couples with children, custody, parenting time, and support. Vermont's practical no-fault ground requires six consecutive months of living separate and apart. There must be no reasonable probability of resuming the marital relationship. Filing requires six months of Vermont residency by either spouse. The court cannot actually decree the divorce, though, unless one spouse has resided in Vermont for a full year immediately before the final hearing date. That is a separate, later-running residency clock. It is easy to overlook.
Stipulated divorce eligibility
Vermont's stipulated divorce track is not gated by marriage length or asset value, the way some states' summary dissolution laws are. The only real requirement is complete agreement. Both spouses sign a stipulation resolving every issue and file it together with the complaint. Qualifying couples pay a reduced $90 filing fee instead of the standard $295. They may also file a Stipulation and Motion to Waive Final Hearing. If the case qualifies under the court's review, this lets the court finalize the divorce without either spouse appearing in person.
Document checklist
A Vermont filing uses form 400-00836NoChildren for couples with no minor children together. Couples with minor children use form 400-00836Children instead. Both are official numbered forms published by the Vermont Judiciary. Couples with a full agreement attach the written stipulation and, where applicable, the Stipulation and Motion to Waive Final Hearing. Filers who cannot afford the fees can submit form 600-00228, the Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs. A guided digital version is available through the VTCourtForms interview tool. Self-represented litigants who choose to e-file through Vermont's Odyssey File and Serve system pay a separate $14 per-case e-filing fee on first filing, unless a fee waiver has already been granted.
Is a hearing required
Not necessarily. A qualifying stipulated case can file a Motion to Waive Final Hearing. That lets the court finalize the divorce without an in-person appearance. If a hearing is not waived, or the case does not qualify, the court holds one. It then enters a decree nisi rather than an immediately final decree. The divorce becomes absolute automatically 90 days after that decree nisi, unless the court sets an earlier date at its discretion. If either spouse dies during that 90-day period, the decree is treated as absolute immediately before the death.
Sources: Vermont Statutes Title 15, Section 554, decree nisi and final decree, Vermont Judiciary, Divorce self-help hub
Not independently confirmed
- Specific criteria the court applies when deciding whether a stipulated case qualifies to waive the final hearing
- Current statutory text confirming the exact residency exception for non-resident couples married in Vermont whose home state does not recognize the marriage for divorce purposes
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Vermont: frequently asked questions
What qualifies a Vermont divorce as uncontested?+
Both spouses agree on every issue at the start. They file a full written stipulation with the complaint, covering property, debt, and any custody and support terms. Vermont's practical no-fault ground is six consecutive months of separation, with no reasonable probability of reconciliation.
How much does a stipulated Vermont divorce cost?+
A stipulated Vermont divorce costs $90, compared to the standard $295 filing fee for a contested case. The reduced fee applies when both spouses file a complete stipulation resolving every issue together with the complaint.
Can we skip the final hearing in a Vermont divorce?+
Possibly. Couples with a qualifying stipulation can file a Stipulation and Motion to Waive Final Hearing. That lets the court finalize the case without either spouse appearing in person. Whether the case qualifies is subject to the court's review.
What is Vermont's decree nisi?+
It is the divorce decree the court enters first, before it becomes final. Vermont does not use a waiting period before granting the divorce. Instead, it enters this initial decree. The divorce becomes absolute automatically 90 days later, unless the court sets an earlier date.
What is Vermont's residency requirement for divorce?+
Two separate clocks apply. Either spouse must have resided in Vermont for six months to file the complaint. The court cannot actually decree the divorce, though, unless one spouse has resided in Vermont for a full year immediately before the final hearing date.
What if we can't afford the Vermont filing fee?+
File form 600-00228, the Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs. Eligibility includes receiving public assistance, gross income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or an inability to pay without compromising funds needed for self-support or dependents.
This page is general information about uncontested divorce checklist in Vermont, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Vermont's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Vermont. Virdix does not prepare or file Vermont divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Vermont.
More Vermont divorce guides
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In the states Virdix serves, it guides you through that state's own court forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file. If you're filing in Vermont, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
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